Resume Tip of the Week ~ 4/05/2010

Communicating positive attributes on a résumé without sounding like everyone else can be extremely difficult. The dilemma is how to effectively sell and substantiate virtues that tend to be overused on résumés, undervalued by readers, and claimed by everyone. Turning phrases such as “customer-focused”, “team player”, and “outstanding communication and organization” into solid facts isn’t easy. Too often, candidates claim these “soft skills” on their résumés without offering proof or evidence. It’s not easy to measure whether someone is customer-focused, a team player, or communicates well, which is why these claims have lost their impact and effectiveness.

To change the reader’s perception of your soft skills you need to look for ways to tie these skills directly to accomplishments. As an alternative to merely stating that you are customer-focused, think of a way you solved a customer’s problem or exceeded a customer’s expectations. It’s critical you demonstrate the skill in order to make someone believe you possess it. For example, you could tout that you, “Improved customer trouble ticket resolution time 25% by creating and implementing customer support procedures which identified high-priority tickets.” In this example, you not only describe HOW you were customer-focused, but you also explained the RESULT of being customer-focused. Remember, the best way to sell a soft skill is to link it directly to an achievement. Your goal should be to impress your reader by backing up your skills with solid accomplishments. Employers value soft skills when they are proven and concrete.